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First Tries & Sunny Skies
© 2018 First Tries & Sunny Skies
Nonfiction
A text that
provides factual
information.
Characteristics Examples
- Content is real
- Purpose is to
inform, engage,
persuade, show
how to do
something or
promote
appreciation
- Not always read
from beginning to
end
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Narrative
Nonfiction
A nonfiction text told
as a story to make a
topic interesting.
Characteristics Examples
- Content is real
- Purpose is to
engage the
reader’s interest
- Read from
beginning to end
- Usually written
chronologically
- Illustrations help
with visualizing the
subject
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Fiction
An invented story
from the author’s
imagination.
Characteristics Examples
- Story elements
such as setting,
characters,
problem, events
and resolution
- Purpose is to
entertain and/or
communicate a
message
- Usually read from
beginning to end
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Contemporary
Realistic Fiction
An imaginary story
that could actually
happen.
Characteristics Examples
- Focuses on the
issues and
problems of
today
- Narrative story
structure with
characters, plot
and setting
- Story takes place
in the real world in
modern times
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Historical
Fiction
A realistic, but
imagined story set in
the past.
Characteristics Examples
- Often based on
real people or
events from the
past
- Characters, plot
and settings are
convincing and
believable
- Important
understandings of
the past
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Fantasy
An imaginary story
that could not
happen in real life.
Characteristics Examples
- Often includes
magical or unreal
elements
- Settings can be
real or imaginary
- Follows the
narrative story
structure
- Characters often
have unusual traits
or special powers
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Traditional
Literature
An imaginary story
that’s been passed
down over time.
Characteristics Examples
- Includes folktales,
fairy tales, fables,
legends, epics,
ballads, and myths
- Typically have no
known author
- A great way to
learn about
different cultures
- Often used to
teach life lessons
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Folktales
An imaginary story
that’s been passed
down over time.
Characteristics Examples
- Includes beast
tales, cumulative
tales, pourquoi
tales, trickster
tales, noodlehead
tales, realistic
tales and tall tales.
- Can have talking
animals
- Very simple plots
- Happy endings
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Fairy Tales
A type of folktale
that includes magic
and the supernatural.
Characteristics Examples
- Usually good
triumphs over evil
- Simple characters
that are either all
good or all evil
- Good is rewarded
and evil punished
- Often includes
wicked witches,
demons, monsters
or dragons
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Fables
A short imaginary
story that is meant to
teach a lesson.
Characteristics Examples
- Often has animals
that speak as
humans
- Usually no more
than three
characters
- Aesop’s fables are
most well known
- Used to teach
morals to kids
- Very short stories
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Ballad
A traditional tale or
poem that is usually
recited or sung.
Characteristics Examples
- Very important to
a specific culture
or region
- Typically features
a hero whose
characteristics
and deeds have
become
exaggerated
- Originally passed
down orally
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Epic
A long narrative
poem featuring a
hero on a journey.
Characteristics Examples
- Involves a quest in
which the hero is
faced with a set
of tasks or tests
- The hero always
triumphs in the
end
- Once a very
popular genre
during ancient
times.
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Legend
A traditional tale
about a noteworthy
person or event.
Characteristics Examples
- Often believed to
have some root in
history but it’s not
always possible to
verify the
historical
accuracy of the
events described.
- These stories were
originally passed
down orally.
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Myths
Imagined stories
that seek to explain
natural phenomena.
Characteristics Examples
- Used to explain
the beginnings of
the world, nature,
natural
phenomena or
human behavior.
- Features immortal
gods and
goddesses that
represent various
virtues.
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Beast Tales
A type of folktale
featuring animals
that talk.
Characteristics Examples
- These types of
folktales are
mostly popular
among children
- Very simple and
easy to follow
plots
- Always has a
happy ending
- Recognizable
literary patterns
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Cumulative
Tales
A rhythmic folktale in
which all story events
are repeated.
Characteristics Examples
- Each new episode
throughout the
story repeats all
of the story events
- Very popular
among children
- Predictable and
simple story plots
- Often features
repetition of
chants
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Pourquoi
Tales
A folktale explaining
why things are the
way they are.
Characteristics Examples
- Usually tries to
explain natural
phenomena like
how the earth
was created or
why animals look
and act the way
they do
- Pourquoi means
“why” in French
- Very simple plots
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Trickster
Tales
A folktale featuring a
weaker, but more
clever animal.
Characteristics Examples
- The physically
smaller or weaker
animal outsmarts
the more
powerful animal
- The little trickster
is often loveable
and mischievous
- Stories reflect the
cultures they
originate from
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Noodlehead
Tales
Humorous folktales
that feature a foolish
character.
Characteristics Examples
- The foolish
character
behaves opposite
of what is
expected
- The character
makes one
mistake after
another
- Usually comes out
on top in the end
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Realistic
Tales
A folktale that does
not feature talking
animal characters.
Characteristics Examples
- These folktales are
often full of humor
- They tend to
emphasize the
quirks and customs
of rural people
- Often told as a
way to teach
important lessons
- Passed down
orally over time
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Tall Tales
A folktale, or legend,
featuring a lot
exaggeration.
Characteristics Examples
- Tend to revolve
around a central,
legendary
character
- The character
often has
extraordinary
physical abilities
or features
- Often have strong
historical roots
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Modern
Fantasy
Imagined stories
that could not
happen in real life.
Characteristics Examples
- Includes animal
fantasy, low
fantasy, high
fantasy and
science fiction
- Author creates a
carefully
structured world
- Provides a nice
escape from
reality
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Animal
Fantasy
An imagined story
featuring animals
that act like people.
Characteristics Examples
- Flat characters
that don’t change
or develop
- Follows the
narrative story
structure (plot,
characters,
setting)
- Often has a moral
or lesson at the
end.
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Low Fantasy
A story featuring
talking animals, toys
and dolls.
Characteristics Examples
- Imagined setting
that seems real
- Often a conflict
between good
and evil
- Often reveals
lessons or
universal truths
- Can take place in
modern or
historical times.
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
High Fantasy
A story featuring a
completely
imaginary world.
Characteristics Examples
- Heroic characters
that change and
grow
- Often features a
quest or mission
- Lots of symbolism
- Conflict between
good and evil
- Usually has sequels
- Reveals universal
truths about life.
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Science
Fiction
An imagined story
featuring futuristic
technology.
Characteristics Examples
- Often takes place
in a future that
may or may not
seem possible
- Sometimes
features aliens or
outer space
- Heroic characters
who change
- Often includes
time travel
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Mystery
Stories about solving
a crime or the
unraveling of secrets
Characteristics Examples
- Can be realistic
or fantasy
- Features a crime
or problem that
needs to be
solved
- Main character is
often a detective
or spy
- Usually one or
more suspects
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Crime
Stories about a
criminal committing
a crime.
Characteristics Examples
- The criminals are
usually caught and
often brought to
justice
- Features good
and bad
characters
- Someone breaks
the law
- Often about
murder
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Survival
Stories in which
characters struggles
to stay alive.
Characteristics Examples
- The main
character usually
has or learn skills
- Involves a struggle
against people or
nature
- Can either be
fantasy or realistic
- Characters usually
become stronger
and change
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Adventure
Stories that feature a
series of exciting
events.
Characteristics Examples
- Often involves
journeys or
dangerous and
suspenseful events
- Features a brave
hero
- Told in first or third
person
- Includes a lot of
action
- Realistic or fantasy
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Horror
Scary stories in which
events evoke a
feeling of dread.
Characteristics Examples
- Features good
and evil
characters
- Often has
monsters or
beastlike
creatures
- Usually has
violence and
victims
- Lots of suspense
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Humor
Stories full of fun that
are meant to
entertain the reader
Characteristics Examples
- Characters often
say and do funny
things
- Often has funny
comparisons
- Often makes fun
of characters
- Sometimes
includes sarcasm
- Humor can occur
in any genre
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Animal
Stories
Stories focusing on
the experiences with
animals.
Characteristics Examples
- Stories that could
really happen
- Includes
descriptions of
how the animals
and human feel
about each other
- Sometimes has a
sad ending
- Characters often
change and learn
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Sports
Stories
Stories that center
around individuals or
team sports.
Characteristics Examples
- Describes the
characters
motivations and
love for the sport
- Often talks about
teamwork
- Includes winning
and losing
- Usually lots of
action
- Often inspiring
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Stories About Family,
Friends, and School
Stories about the a
person’s everyday
experiences.
Characteristics Examples
- Characters could
be any age
- Characters have
relationship
struggles with
family or friends
- Problems often
relate to school
- Describes the ups
and downs of
friendships
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Romance
Stories that focus on
romantic attraction
among characters.
Characteristics Examples
- Shows the
development of
romance
between
characters
- Setting is often
realistic
- Contemporary or
historical
- Happy or sad
endings
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Westerns
Stories that are set in
the rural Western
United States.
Characteristics Examples
- Usually involves
horses
- Can take place in
rural areas of
other countries
- Setting is
important
- Conflict between
good and evil
- Can be set in the
past or present
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Satire
Stories that us
ridicule or scorn in a
humorous way.
Characteristics Examples
- Uses lots of
sarcasm and irony
- Often makes
comments on
society
- Has a mockery
tone
- Exposes vices and
follies
- Usually a strong
point of view
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Biographical
Text
A nonfiction text
about all or part of
a real person’s life.
Characteristics Examples
- Can be a
biography,
autobiography or
memoir
- Provides factual
information
- Meant to inform
but also entertain
and engage
readers
- Narrative style
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Biography
A factual text about
a person written by
someone else.
Characteristics Examples
- Can be about all
or part of a
person’s life
- Written in
narrative style
- Tell why the
subject is
important
- Written in third
person point of
view
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Autobiography
A story in which the
author writes about
their own life.
Characteristics Examples
- Can be about all
or part of a
person’s life
- Written in first
person
- Uses a narrative
structure
- Provides factual
information
- Has a limited
perspective
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Memoir
A story in which the
author writes about
a significant memory
Characteristics Examples
- Tells about a
significant time,
place, person, or
event in one’s own
life
- Explains why the
memory is
important
- Often conveys a
larger message
- First person
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Expository
Texts
A nonfiction text that
gives information
about a topic.
Characteristics Examples
- Uses a clear (non-
narrative)
organizational
structure
- Has a major topic
and supporting
information
- Provides factual
information about
a topic
- Very organized
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Procedural
Text
Provides information
to give directions or
describe a process.
Characteristics Examples
- Gives clear
directions
- Often organized
as step-by-step
directions
- Often has
diagrams with
labels
- Describes and
teaches each step
in the process
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Persuasive
Text
A text written to
convince the reader
of something.
Characteristics Examples
- Presents a series
of factual,
logically organized
reasons to support
ideas in order to
convince the
reader to think or
do something
- Includes facts and
opinions
- Often is biased
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Categorical
Text
Information is
presented in logical
categories.
Characteristics Examples
- All categories and
subcategories are
clearly related to
the major topic
- There are often
diagrams that
show how
different
categories of
information are
related
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Recount
(Chronological Sequence)

An expository text
that presents events
in a specific order.
Characteristics Examples
- Sometimes starts
in the present and
moves backwards
in time or in the
order events
happened
- Often includes a
timeline or
diagrams that
show time periods
clearly
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Collection
An expository text
presenting a body
of material as a list.
Characteristics Examples
- Items are often
organized
alphabetically or
with descriptors
- May be included
as reference tools
in a factual text
- Requires the
reader to know
how to conduct a
search
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Interview
(Question & Answer)
An expository text
written as questions
and responses.
Characteristics Examples
- Either based on
the transcription
of a verbal
interview or on
frequently asked
questions about a
topic
- May be read in
order or in part
- Questions often
have logical order
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Report
An expository text
using several sources
of information.
Characteristics Examples
- Synthesizes
information from
several sources to
inform a reader
about a topic
- Organized in a
logical way
- Communicates
one or more main
ideas with
supporting details
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Feature
Article
An expository text
typically published
for print or media.
Characteristics Examples
- Presents
information about
a central theme
or idea
- Tend to deal with
a wide variety of
subjects
- Seeks to engage
readers with an
interesting angle
on the topic
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Literary
Essay
An expository text
presenting analytical
thinking about a text.
Characteristics Examples
- The writer present
their thinking
about a text or
some connected
body of texts
- The writer makes
main points
through pulling
together
information and
ideas
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 How-To
(Directions)
A procedural text
about how to
perform a task.
Characteristics Examples
- Usually written as
an organized
series of step-by-
step directions
- Often includes
diagrams and
drawings with
labels
- Written to teach
the reader how
to do something
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Argument
A persuasive text
giving reasons to
support a stance.
Characteristics Examples
- Organized with a
series of reasons
to convince the
reader to do or
think something
- Often very biased
and one-sided
- Requires the
reader to
distinguish fact
from opinion
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Discussion
A persuasive text
that presents the
pros and cons.
Characteristics Examples
- Seeks to be
objective by
providing different
points of view
- Usually arrives at
a conclusion
about a topic
- Shows the pros
and cons of a
situation, event or
phenomenon
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Persuasive
Essay
A persuasive text
related to a social or
scientific issue.
Characteristics Examples
- Typically has a
very formal
structure
- The Writer gathers
all information
needed to make
an important
decision
- The Writer often
has performed
research
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Hybrid
Texts
A text that blends
fiction and nonfiction
in a coherent whole.
Characteristics Examples
- May have
different genres
or structures
embedded within
a text or have
sections set apart
that are written
using different
structure
- Separates the two
different genres
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Graphica
A text that uses
images and words to
tell a story or inform.
Characteristics Examples
- Often presented
as panels with art
- The pictures carry
a lot of meaning
just as important
than the text
- Dialogue is
important
- Sometimes full of
action and
adventure
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Comic Strip
Panels of graphics
and print that tell a
story.
Characteristics Examples
- Often found in
magazines or
newspapers
- Story continues or
is about the same
characters
- 3 to 8 panels
- May be humorous,
romantic,
adventurous, or
used for mockery
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Comic Book
An entire volume of
comic strip telling a
longer story.
Characteristics Examples
- Has multiple
pages in one
volume that looks
like a magazine
- Often about
superheroes
- Wide range of
story lines that
may carry over
from one issue to
the next.
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Graphic Novel
A book-length fiction
text with comic strips
on every page.
Characteristics Examples
- Similar to comic
book but longer
- Dialogue in
speech bubbles
use first person
- Print features
create mood
- Often uses all
uppercase letters
- Has all fictional
story elements
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Graphic
Nonfiction
A book-length
nonfiction text using
comic strips.
Characteristics Examples
- Typically has a
very formal
structure
- The Writer gathers
all information
needed to make
an important
decision
- The Writer often
has performed
research
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Manga
A graphic story using
stylized Japanese
illustrations.
Characteristics Examples
- Often separated
into shojo for girls
and shonen for
males
- Has a special form
of illustrating
characters
- May be read
from back of the
book to front or
right to left.
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Poetry
Compact, metrical
and artistic category
of writing.
Characteristics Examples
- Characterized by
imagination,
artistry and
usually has intense
meaning
- Evokes feeling in
the reader
- Focuses mainly on
emotions,
language and
sensory images
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Free Verse
(Poetry)
A type of poetry
written without any
rules.
Characteristics Examples
- It can rhyme but
does not have to
- There is usually a
rhythm but often
does not have a
regular beat
- Tends to use
figurative
language
- This can be short
or long
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Lyrical
Poetry
A type of poetry
that has rhythm and
is songlike.
Characteristics Examples
- Sounds like a song
- Uses lots of
descriptive and
figurative
language
- Usually fairly short
- Has rhythm and
sometimes rhyme
- Helps you to
visualize in your
head
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Narrative/Ballad
(Poetry)
A type of poetry
that tells a story
related to an event.
Characteristics Examples
- Tells a story, often
a very long one
- Uses rhythm,
rhyme and
repetition
- Typically about an
important event
or heroic deeds
- Can be fantasy,
funny or serious
- Songlike
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Epic/Saga
A long narrative
poem, usually about
a hero.
Characteristics Examples
- Epic: a long poem
about the great
deeds of a folk
hero
- Saga: a more
sophisticated
narrative poem
with less emphasis
on the hero
- Often includes a
long quest
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Haiku
An ancient Japanese
form of non-rhyming
poetry.
Characteristics Examples
- Has 17 syllables
- Does not rhyme
- Lines 1 and 3 have
five syllables
- Line 2 has seven
syllables
- Usually has two
parts, a
description and a
statement of
mood or feeling
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Limerick
A humorous,
nonsense form of
rhyming verse.
Characteristics Examples
- Lines 1, 2, and 5
rhyme
- Lines 3 and 4
rhyme
- Has 5 lines total
- Very silly and
humorous
- Sometimes has a
surprise
- Typically about
very silly subjects
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
 Concrete
Poetry
A type of poetry
arranged to show a
picture.
Characteristics Examples
- The arrangement
of the text looks
like or is related to
the meaning
- Might look like an
object or show
movement
- Shows meaning of
the poem through
the words and the
shape of poem
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
Sonnet
A fourteen-line verse
consisting of three
four-line stanzas.
Characteristics Examples
- Each four line
stanza (quatrain)
has its own rhyme
pattern and ends
with a couplet
- Very pleasurable
to listen to
- Conveys strong
emotion
- Often about
historical events
© First Tries & Sunny Skies 2018
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